As Global Coronavirus Death Toll Tops 7,000, Canada Closes Border to Foreigners

The number of novel coronavirus cases globally stood at 175,530 with 7,007 deaths, across 145 countries and territories at 1700 GMT on Monday, according to a tally compiled by AFP from official sources.

This is as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced yesterday that Canada is closing its borders to most foreign travellers, except Americans, in order to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

Since 1700 GMT on Sunday there were 587 new deaths reported and 11,597 new cases globally.

The tallies, using data collected by AFP offices from national authorities and information from the World Health Organisation (WHO), take into account the fact that criteria for counting victims and coronavirus screening practices vary from country to country.

China — excluding Hong Kong and Macau — where the epidemic was declared in late December, has to date declared 80,860 cases, including 3,213 deaths, with 67,490 people recovered. The country declared 16 new cases and 14 new fatalities since Sunday.

Outside China, there have been 3,794 deaths by 1700 GMT Monday —573newfatalitiessinceSunday1700 GMT — out of 94,676 cases, of which 11,581 were new.

The worst-hit nation after China is Italy with 2,158 deaths (27,980 cases), Iran with 853 fatalities (14,991 cases), Spainwith309deaths(9,191cases)and France with 127 deaths (5,423 cases).

Since 1700 GMT Sunday, Portugal, Bahrain, Hungary, Guatemala and Luxembourg have announced their first fatalities. Trinidad and Tobago, Liberia and Tanzania have diagnosed their first cases.

By 1700 GMT Monday, Asia had listed 92,260 cases and 3,337 deaths, Europe 61,073 cases and 2,711 deaths, the Middle East 16,530 cases and 869 deaths, the United States and Canada 4,126 cases and 70 deaths, Latin America and the Caribbean 815 cases and seven deaths, Africa 374 cases and eight deaths, and Oceania 358 cases and five deaths.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Monday that Canada is closing its borders to most foreign travellers, except Americans, in order to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

“All Canadians, as much as possible, should also stay home,” he told a news conference outside his residence where he and his family are self-isolating after his wife Sophie tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.

The prime minister said: “We will be denying entry to Canada to people who are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents.”

Airlines will be ordered not to allow any passengers with flulike symptoms to board flights, and all inbound international flights will be redirected to four Canadian airports in Montreal, Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver where health screenings will be stepped up.

These measures will take effect starting midday on March 18, said Transport Minister Marc Garneau.

US citizens will be exempted from the ban, Trudeau said, because of the high “level of integration of our two economies and the coordination that we have.”

This “puts the US in a separate category from the rest of the world,” he explained.

There will also be exemptions for aircrews, diplomats, and immediate family members of Canadian citizens.

As of 9 am (1300 GMT), Health Canada has confirmed 324 COVID-19 cases in Canada, and one death.